AN AGREEMENT A DAY KEEPS THE ECONOCONS AWAY:

Nicaragua approves CAFTA with the U.S. (Associated Press, 10/11/05)

Nicaragua's legislature late Monday approved the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

By a vote of 49-37, with three abstentions, lawmakers passed the so-called CAFTA pact, which will take affect after President Enrique Bolanos directs that it be published in the official gazette.

Legislators from the ruling Constitutionalist Liberal Party joined with independents to support the measure, which would eliminate trade barriers between the United States and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Those opposed included lawmakers from the leftist Sandinista party, whose leader, Daniel Ortega, has been an outspoken critic of the proposal.

Jimmy Carter was the only president who couldn't figure out how to beat John Kerry's pal Danny Ortega like a drum.

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 11, 2005 6:03 PM